Chennai: Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Thursday came out with a Rs 500 crore worth scheme to give a fillip to tourism in the state, besides announcing 100 more small buses for Chennai this year.
At present, the MTC is operating 200 small buses which links remote places with the nearest transport hub, she said and added that 100 more would join the fleet.
The heirs of transport workers who die in service would be given 1,600 jobs based on seniority of registration. It would be distributed among the eight transport corporations and 200 jobs would be allocated to each, she said.
About 1.79 crore passengers are using 20,839 buses and the government is providing subsidy for diesel to avoid increase of ticket fares, she said and added that Rs 1.556 crores of subsidy had been given to transport corporations in the last four years.
The Chief Minister said the historical monuments would be renewed and documented and the infrastructure at major tourist destinations would be developed.
The improvements would be made in the next five years at an estimated amount of Rs 403 crores through the Asian Development Bank funds, she told the Assembly in a statement under rule 110. Besides, coastal tourism would be improved at a cost of Rs 95 crores and schemes worth Rs 22.35 crores would be spent to boost infrastructure in Kanchipuram and Veilankanni.
Extensive excavation would be taken up at Azhagankulam archaeological site near Ramanathapuram on the banks of Vaigai river, near the sea coast, she said.
The village was a major harbour used by the Romans from second century BC to second century AD. There are evidences in Sangam literature that Azhagankulam was a major harbour, she said. Previous 24 excavations which took place at Azhagankulam had revealed the social, cultural activities of the people in the area.
A new zonal arts and cultural centre would be set up at Coimbatore in addition to the six centres functioning at Kanchipuram, Salem, Thanjavur, Tiruchy, Madurai and Tirunelveli.
The classrooms at the Government Arts College would repaired and automatic fire extinguishers, alarms and protection equipment would be fixed at the Chennai government museum.
Besides, the exhibition halls at the museum would be renewed, inner roads would be improved and facilities for the visitors would be improved, she said and allocated Rs 10 crores for the works.
